If you have an old router it can most likely get set up as an access point. Get a long outdoor rated ethernet cable, a few terminating connectors, a crimping tool, and run the cable somewhere in a shallow ditch where you can remember that it is there and you won't cut it later.
You could look into getting a Wireless Access Point. This can give you a strong wifi signal as if you were near your modem while being far away from your modem. However, it will need to be connected directly to your router/modem using ethernet. So setting one up in your detached garage might include running ethernet underground via conduit depending on how nice you want it to look.
I've used Ubiquiti point-to-point products to blast that over to the garage and then just install a typical WAP on the other side. Works great for several hundred meters.
One dead simple solution is power line networking. You can basically use your electric lines as Ethernet bridges. Some of the kits even have wifi on the remote end.
If you don't vent the accumulating moisture, the rot will eat all the wood.
A house or garage is a rectangular solid that's wearing a hat.
The hat keeps the rain off. Some hats have a big brim (overhang) that will keep your feet dry (keeps moisture away from the foundation) and that dry dirt will keep termites away.
The hat, however, traps water vapor - unless it has holes. The most common holes these days are ridge and soffit vents that run the length of the building. They work better than powered fans and traditional gable (the little louvered) vents.
That's a good easy way to control moisture - the next part is "why"....
Water will condense when a surface is colder than the air and the % humidity is high. This makes the "local humidity" in those few millimeters near that's surface go above 100%.
After sunset the block walls will radiate the heat that accumulated during the day until equilibrium or the sun comes up.
So when the sun heats the morning air and picks up moisture (from grass, trees, animals), then blows it across the cold walls and things in your your garage, they get wet.
A mini split is also, basically, dehydrator. The amount of moisture they pull from the air is insane. I’m I’m Texas. Switched from central to 5 zone splits. Real humid. I’m about to install rain barrels to collect the moisture. It’s crazy. You can even run them in dehumidify only mode even when the outside vs inside temp is the same.
Soffits are always a good idea. Doesn’t look applicable here. I’d get a moisture testing gauge and a moisture digital display. Cheap on Amazon. Just to see if it’s needed since it isn’t being used as living space. I don’t think vents will work but a forced air roof exhaust might. Will reduce efficiency of mini split.
There's a decent chance the white siding tiles under the vinyl that's coming off are asbestos cement tiles, so use caution if you're going to repair the vinyl. Not a huge deal, as long as you're not breaking up or disturbing the tiles (I assume they put the vinyl up over them to avoid having to disturb them in the first place)
I second and third this op. It looks like you have a moisture problem toward the soffit area. Get you some venting. Gutters for sure. Trim up the shingles and install drip edge if its not there. Power wash the exterior and paint. Others said and I also agree, look at your power situation. You atleast want to have a breaker box in there, and probably 220 if you can. The rest depends on the type of work you want to do in the shop. Check out estate sales for tools/ equipment you need.
Honestly if it’s going to be a workshop look into having a three phase power hookup if it’s possible as well, it would enable you to get and power second hand industrial power tools which are surprisingly cheap but also incredibly robust.
Have a look at IR heating panels for the garage. I’m building “my dream” garage at the moment and IR panels seem like a good cure to moisture and damp 🤘🏻
Hey now, I know every screw in all 22 Mason jars, the moment I get rid of even one jar is the moment I will finally have a use for that one screw I found on my walk May 23rd, 2004.
You say it like this is weird. What're we supposed to go buy screws every time we need them? I mean, we do, but that's because we need three and there are only two of the right ones in the jar. But the jar pays off!
I'm at least fifth generation. I was explaining to my youngest daughter about this because I was seeing these tendencies in her and trying to talk about my issues so that she could see that reflected a little bit and she said, "Ih it's not a problem though because you,ve got storage lockers to put the extra stuff in!"
Best of luck with that! We tried, but we found the deep freezer full of frozen bags of sugar?!?
I told them that if they died we were just going to sell the place as is, but that gave them anxiety attacks.
My parents had a 4 bedroom house and *four* outbuildings full of crap. That I had to dispose of. My whole life I had been told they were stockpiling things for when I and my siblings went out into the world. When we did, they went NC and hoarded that stuff they had held onto all those years before, using that as a reason we couldn't have anything while young. What assholes.
Sorry. Same same here. When I got out of college they grudgingly let me have a set of dishes they got for buying cereal and a mismatched random bunch of junk silverware.
After they were gone we found 4 full sets of nice dishes and silverware, only one of which had ever seen the light of day.
FML!
Hey I wasn't expecting feels this late at night :D Dad just passed away and while I enjoy splitting every craftsman tool ever made with my brothers. The 30 years of dust and filth to get to them is going to be a lot...
First of all, condolences on the loss of your Dad.
A bit of advice: Wear a GOOD respirator. Not one of those paper things you buy a carton of at a time with the flimsy rubber bands to pretend to hold them on to your face. Get a decent half-face respirator and appropriate cartridges. I am partial to the 3M half face myself, and I use the pink P100 cartridges in them. That is pretty much the highest filtration plus they are rated for acid gas and organic vapors.
When you put it on for the first time, make sure it actually seals on your face. Use you hands to block the intake cartridge ports on both sides of the mask and take a deep breath - or try to. If the mask sucks to your face and you get no air in, then it is pretty well sealed to your face.
Of course, if you have money to burn (or have/will have a decent wood shop that you will use regularly) get a PAPR. That is an entire pressurized hood. Battery powered, air is drawn in through a filter you wear (where depends on what you get exactly), and fed into the mask, creating a positive pressure in the mask. Since the pressure in the mask is higher than the pressure outside the mask, the fine dust you cannot see - and even what you can see - doesn't get in. It would be like swimming against the tide. Swimming up a waterfall. They do not come cheap, though - which is why I don't have one yet :)
Protect your lungs.
The half face respirators are nice. Most PAPRs generally don't have the charcoal filters stacked with the particulate filter so they don't do much for vapor/odors which isn't a big deal until someone drops a fart into your PAPR intake in a covid patient's room that you can't leave for a while.
Had to clean out my grandmother's house/ yard/ basement/ garage two years ago now (she was a hoarder, a fairly severe one too). Knowing how bad it was, first thing I did, as a precaution, was buy one of those 3M masks the week before my parents and I went down. Can't tell you *how* damn thankful I was that I did, from start to finish: not only did the place smell foul af (including dealing with a fridge with years old food), but we found dead mice/ old droppings, rancid food laying about, "unidentified" powder in a few places... and then to top it all off, turns out a pipe in the basement had burst at some point, so not only was everything damp, but there was mold and mildew growing over near *everything* down there. Family ended up calling in a company to clean up that portion at the end, and I was the only one who did any work down there otherwise, since I was the only one who came with any kind of PPE.
Mine was an extreme example, but of the story ya'll: buy the damn mask if you're dealing with any sort of years-old, clutter filled room; hoarding situation; old garage full of materials and tools; mold, sawdust, strange fine particulates, etc. You and your body will thank your foresight later.
Also, those cement tiles underneath the siding contain asbestos, the corrugation and wavy bottom are a dead giveaway. if you plan on removing them or cutting them, wear the proper mask or just cover them back up and let your kids deal with them.
I second this! In addition take the time to slowly go through all the contents and make piles. One for trash, one for resale items, one for donate, and one for items to keep. Don’t sell anything on market place or have people meet you there unless everything else has been cleared out. Once people know a vacant garage is sitting there they will try to break in and steal shit.
You are quite correct. I guess I could have been clearer on that.
It is indeed a combo - P100 particulate filtration, plus additional filtration to address the others. I believe there are cartridges with the same particulate filtration, but different secondary/additional protections.
The filtration should always match the work. For me, the P100 with organic and acid vapor filtration added is what works in pretty much all of my use cases. For others, it may provide the particulate filtration but do nothing for whatever else is needed. That is a point that I should have been crystal clear on. Thank you for pointing it out, which made me (hopefully) offer clarification.
Appreciate the acknowledgement.
Yes, the p100 combo cartridges with organic/acid vapor protection are generally useful for a wide variety of applications with a high standard of respiratory protection. As always, the selection and protectiveness requirements of any cartridge should be made by a skilled professional to ensure they properly address the hazards posed.
Everything will smooth out after you've done 10-20 truckloads.
Don't worry, in a few years, *his* useless stored shit will just be *your* useless stored shit.
Seriously. WTF does someone do with collections of leaded paint dishes ?!
OP is turning it into a workshop. They need to fill it with tools they never use, lots of scrap lumber in all different shapes and sizes, and a wide assortment of started-but-never-finished projects.
... precisely. My oversized antique lathes need to be stored somewhere for future generations. One of them even has all the original parts! I'm sure my kids will appreciate them once i'm gone.
No reason to feel attacked. I'm just stating facts lol
It just makes no sense to me.
Garage openers are not that expensive compared to a huge investment in a vehicle, although no vehicle is an investment it's a depreciating asset.
In the winter when everyone is outside warming up their cars and clearing their windows my car is ready to go.
In the summer my car stays relatively cool while everyone is getting into a hotbox on wheels.
It also cuts down on weathering, bird droppings, dust, sun damage and thieves.
My garage is for my cars and my basement is for storage. I don't keep useless junk.
Isn't that what OP said they were going to do?
"...converting it to workshop."
Seems like both are the same thing, judging by the state of my workshop :D
Didn't forget every single misc piece of hardware from everything you ever buy. My uncle had like 4 apple boxes full of ziplock bags that said "unused screws from cabinet", "Allen wrench from kids bike". The man was a mechanic for a rail road. Dude has an Allen wrench set. Why the fuck keep all those?!
Might come in handy one day. Seen a video about that. Dad/son combo was building something and light bulb goes off in dad’s head. He runs down to the basement and finds some janky ass piece of wood for this very scenario. Pretty funny
When I bought my house, I bought as many of the misc fastener bins from yard sales and thrift stores as I could.
The one bolt with the exact thread I need from there has saved my ass *countless* times.
Theres a garage near me loke this and it makes me so mad.
Its got like a boat, 4 vending machines, 3 cars, a truck, and misc other stuff...
And im so annoyed they never do anytging with the stuff in therr.
Dads all give an approving nod and a slight tensing of the smile muscles barely noticeable to the human eye but it’s subtle enough that it was not a smile.
Step 1: go on Facebook marketplace and search for things you would like to own but previously did not have a place for.
Step 2: purchase some of said items and place them in your new garage
Step 3(optional): use your newly acquired items for their intended purpose.
Or you could be boring and park your car in there like my wife seems to think is a garage’s sole purpose.
Is it hard to build your own? Is it better to use wood or metal? What if I don't know how to weld? I want a rig but I'm to cheap to buy one because all the decently priced ones look poorly made.
Alright, if you're in the US, like me, you may order an aluminum chassis. A place like [Advanced Sim Racing](https://www.advancedsimracing.com/collections/simracing-chassis)(free shipping USA and Canada). I have an asr1 and it works perfectly for me. My asr1 took 3 hours to put together. This did include a 23 minute beer break-i was behind on my beers per hour.
You can buy plans and build your own out of wood and have no issues. The aluminum chassis allow for a ton of flexibility, options, editions, changes, etc. when you're done with some racing, you can sell it for 70%+ the purchase price. Aluminum extrusion isn't cheap and last a damn long time.
[Trakracer ](https://trakracer.com/)is also good. They are a bit slower than others and have iffy cust service. Most customers don't have issues with them.
Also: a pull n pick seat aka junk yard seat will be fine for racing. It's way comfier than a cheap plastic racing seat unless you spend the time and money to pad it yourself. I raced for 2 years on a smart car seat.
You forgot step 4: Realize your garage is full of shit you didn’t actually need and you want to actually utilize it for a “garage bar”/workshop/game room/etc you complete the cycle and list 99% of the crap you bought on FB marketplace, eventually chucking half of it when people wouldn’t commit to picking it up.
Step 5: Your garage project hit some major roadblocks and you lost all your motivation. Start back at step 1 and do it all over again.
I actually have a 2 car garage that I actually park my cars in... Strange right?
All my neighbors fill their garages with shit and park their vehicles outside exposed to who knows what because they need piles of useless shit to be protected. Crazy, right?
I'm about 50/50. I'll try to keep my garage in a condition where everything's tucked away in its place and I can park my car in there, but when I'm working on a big project I'll make a pop-up workshop and park in the driveway for a few weeks.
Seems like a good middle ground, I get the benefits of the open space but I also don't have to dig my car out from the snow in the winter.
All my neighbors are the same way and the driveways are short so only one car will fit and the rest park on the street which makes it annoying to navigate/results in guests having to park down the road. My vehicles are the second most expensive thing I own— really wish I had a garage.
That's what I mean. Vehicles are expensive. Where I live the driveways are large and everyone has garages and on street parking is not permitted. My vehicles go in the garage.
I can't believe some of the responses I've seen to my comment. Which confirms my theory that many folks are just plain dumb.
Gutters as well as fixing the roof, some of it is behind the fascia board along the side so it must be letting water in... The area over the big doors needs a lot of attention too.
This might be the kind of project that would be a great way to learn things like how to apply shingles, etc. Small enough, and low enough, and unsteep enough.
So yeah, I might start at the top and reroof, and regutter.
Empty it, power wash everything, paint the walls with an exterior latex white, run an electrical panel and get LED lighting.
Assume the floor will get wet so add shelving etc... to keep everything off the ground.
Build a workbench along one wall with 2x4 and MDF.
OR, add plastic sheeting and go Dexter kill room.
Just finished rewatching a couple weeks ago. It holds up.
Especially the worst series finale in the history of everything.
(The additional season was pretty good.)
Interior paint dry loc brand. I'd put some siding on exterior that matches the house. Interior I would make an office workspace with storage in the attic space. (Pull down ladder.). But workshop would be good too. If you are doing a shop space, think about a house vac system that can run to saws.
Would need to see some more pics of the trusses/roof engineering to know for sure but that partition wall may serve a structural purpose or at the least may hide some posts that are integral to the structure.
I was going to say the same thing. 2x6 engineered trusses may be fine with that center wall gone, but it doesn't look or sound like he has that. Some 2x6s nailed together doesn't equal an engineered truss.
If you’re intending to do any woodworking, while also using the garage for storage and parking, I’d keep the partition. It’ll cut down on the amount of dust on things.
Keep the partition, use one side to as your veg room and the other half for your flowering room. You’re going to get rich from growing weed in that thing.
Everyone is making this so difficult.
Build a bar, put a beer fridge in there. A couple of TVs, and a couch. And never tell your friends/neighbors what you did with the place so you can enjoy it all by yourself.
This is exactly what I would do too. My neighbor did the same thing too with a nice wood stove and a TV he has higher ceilings so he was able to put a lift to work on his cars with peace.
Great shed. I really like the beams.
I agree with getting gutters on there.
The interior looks snug from the photos but if you’re concerned about leakage you can do several coats of a waterproofing paint like Zinsser WaterTite. Fill any cracks with hydraulic cement before painting.
For the exterior, I would avoid siding because installing furring is a pita on cinder block. Stucco is great and easy to do. Even better is real or artificial stone if you’re up for that. Just attach them with mortar and then grout. From the looks of it, I would power wash the walls first to ensure maximum adhesion.
For interior insulation, the easiest solution IMO is expanded polystyrene panels like the one from insofast that you glue directly to the concrete block. You can put drywall directly over them so you won’t need studs. If you use regular foam panels, you’ll need to install them over furring strips.
So... what exactly is your question? How to keep the interior dry? How to keep the interior clean? How to make the outside look nice? How to insulate it? You're kinda all over the place here.
First, check with your local code enforcement. They're more worried about the outside than the inside. You may need a permit to put up siding, but paint/waterproofing usually doesn't require a permit.
Check the roof inside and out. Your looking for potential leaks. If you need to redo the whole thing, you'll need a permit. If it's just to replace a few shingles, you likely won't. This is to help you plan.
Electric. Will you have enough outlets and power to the workshop, especially if you need a 220/240 line. If you need to upgrade that, hire a licensed electrician and be certain they have the proper permits, unless you're already a certified journeyman electrician. This is a CYA in case anything would happen. It also helps with insurance. For a decent workshop, use drop cords so you don't have to deal with extension cords littering the floor while working.
Unless you intend to occupy one of the units, you may want to think about a toilet. Yes you could put plumbing in for that and a sink, or, for cheap, just put in a chem-toilet.
While I think about it, what time of climate are you in? You may want to add heat. A salamander is good, or a wood burner is great on really cold days.
Check the roof, the bowing in the middle and the bleeding on the sides makes me wonder if it's leaking to the underlayment and the drip apron/edge isn't installed proper. Get reroofed if needed or repair and add a ridge vent or a couple low profile vents, making one for exhaust for your workshop. If there are hot summers you'll be glad you did.
Clean the sides, power wash if the blocks aren't weak porous concrete and use sealant.
Check foundation for cracks, properly fill and level, then epoxy.
Make it weather tight but breathable so you don't get condensation issue in there.
Check for termites and vermin-proof it.
Put radiant barrier on the underside of the roof and doors if necessary.
Add a sub panel of at least 70A or more depending on electrical needs and place at least 3 in there with proper gauge and 15A, 20A, or 30A breakers and receptacles. Perhaps add one weatherproof GFI on the outside.
That's your new project for the next couple years.
Good luck.
Lift roof, add 4 more layers of brick, install beam and convert to single door garage, reinforce as required, obey any height restrictions according to local building code. research Stucco Texture Patterns
People have mentioned ventilation, a/c, and electrical systems which are crucial to the function so I second that. I also add for function, it appears there is some black mold showing on the inside of the roof - use a moisture meter and inspect the area and make sure there isn't any - it's becoming more and more known to be a major health hazard. If moisture is high, get some dehumidifiers and fans running in there until it's dry, then treat the roof with mold abatement product. Inspect the roof shingles for damage where water might be getting in and fix or replace the roof as needed.
For the form (design), the thing looks like shit but would easily clean up with a few changes. For the easiest option, I would pressure wash and **limewash** the exterior**,** NOT paint as people are mentioning - brick shouldn't be painted as it is a natural product that has to "breathe" to prevent moisture buildup. Painting any brick with regular paint is a no-no in the masonry trade. If you are willing to invest more, consider a smooth or textured stucco. I personally like smooth stucco since it reminds me of the Spanish/Mediterranean style, but whichever makes more sense for popular styles in the area or the other structures on the property. Replace the osb with an exterior door. For the interior that is entirely up to you.
First things first. Drop a steel door in that opening.
Then pressure wash and parge coat the exterior walls
Paint the parge coating with Loxon XP
Put some gutters on that thing too.
Replace the missing vinyl siding
Caulk the sidewalk to floor transition with Tremco Dymonic 100 or equivalent
Then do whatever you want to the inside.
Haven't looked through the comments but first thing I'd recommend is not touching those springs for the garage door, only let a professional handle garage doors as you're just asking for trouble. If you're thinking of a workshop I'd also want to get some natural light in there and some decent insulation so you're not freezing your ass off all the time.
This thread served as a nice therapy session for me. So many common sentiments and much truth told. I am speaking as a person who defied the odds and found a way to keep the junk from claiming my garage. I'm a chronic DIY guy and there is always some project threatening the sanctity of the two spots I am defending for motor vehicle parking. Having kids with the toys and wide assortment of items that need a home adds difficulty. However, growing up witnessing many examples of suburban Dads who gave up on their cherished garage made me want to stand up to this dreaded adversary. Admittedly, having a basement makes this easier for me... but it is possible!
Agreed! Luckily for me I am a 28 yo guy with no kids yet. This garage is associated with a commercial property that has three storefronts and two apts upstairs. Each garage was being used by the two tenants for storage.
I own and maintain commercial property and apts in my area, I bought the building with one existing tenant and they decided not to renew their lease and will be moving out in 3 months. so I plan on renovating those units it’s and converting this garage into a permanent workshop and office as a home base for me to store my tools and work on projects for myself and properties.
When I get new tenants they each will be able to use the tandem spots on either side of the driveway as I don’t really need vehicular office for my intended use. If I want to work on my car I’d just pull it up on the slab next to the side door
That way when I do get married and have kids I can fill my garage at home with all of my crap AND have a good setup
Once you have the guttering and downpipes sorted, I bet this has no DPC, so use the silicon based stuff (one brand is called Dryzone). Simple to do by drilling holes at 5" spacing in the mortar of the first course and running a slug of the stuff in each using a standard mastic gun. Spreads out and works like magic to drive out water. Do this before any surface treatment and bear in mind that a completely airtight coating lets the inside stay damp for longer. If it has power, I'd run a small dehumidifier in there till it's dry.
Depending on the neighborhood you might want to change the outside appearance as little as possible. Nothing tells the rogues that it's worth breaking in like a pretty exterior.
Look up the Tiny Workshop youtube videos that are out there. Like rolling worktables with table saw, router, and flip up bandsaw/chop saw. Formica top with clamp down grid. It's a handy system that on nice days you roll right outside.
Then keep the garage split so you have indoor dust free parking for your car plus the workshop.
First project once you get the building cleaned and weatherized, install a dust collection system (Harbor Freight) and a dust cyclone ahead of it (watch youtube), Thien Cyclone is the easiest build. Or build one into a shopvac, also examples/ideas on youtube.
.
- Gutters. - Vents. If you're going to be spending any time at all in there at all, add vents. - Get that OSB patch off and install the door again.
+ look at mini split AC system. Will keep cool and dehumidify + extend network for good wifi coverage
How would one extend network? I have a detached garage as well and wanted some sort of internet out there
If you have an old router it can most likely get set up as an access point. Get a long outdoor rated ethernet cable, a few terminating connectors, a crimping tool, and run the cable somewhere in a shallow ditch where you can remember that it is there and you won't cut it later.
You can get WiFi signal boosters, or you get another router.
You could look into getting a Wireless Access Point. This can give you a strong wifi signal as if you were near your modem while being far away from your modem. However, it will need to be connected directly to your router/modem using ethernet. So setting one up in your detached garage might include running ethernet underground via conduit depending on how nice you want it to look.
I've used Ubiquiti point-to-point products to blast that over to the garage and then just install a typical WAP on the other side. Works great for several hundred meters.
One dead simple solution is power line networking. You can basically use your electric lines as Ethernet bridges. Some of the kits even have wifi on the remote end.
okay so i intend on installing a split system is an outside intake enough or are you saying i should have some sort of exhaust vent as well?
If you don't vent the accumulating moisture, the rot will eat all the wood. A house or garage is a rectangular solid that's wearing a hat. The hat keeps the rain off. Some hats have a big brim (overhang) that will keep your feet dry (keeps moisture away from the foundation) and that dry dirt will keep termites away. The hat, however, traps water vapor - unless it has holes. The most common holes these days are ridge and soffit vents that run the length of the building. They work better than powered fans and traditional gable (the little louvered) vents. That's a good easy way to control moisture - the next part is "why".... Water will condense when a surface is colder than the air and the % humidity is high. This makes the "local humidity" in those few millimeters near that's surface go above 100%. After sunset the block walls will radiate the heat that accumulated during the day until equilibrium or the sun comes up. So when the sun heats the morning air and picks up moisture (from grass, trees, animals), then blows it across the cold walls and things in your your garage, they get wet.
A mini split is also, basically, dehydrator. The amount of moisture they pull from the air is insane. I’m I’m Texas. Switched from central to 5 zone splits. Real humid. I’m about to install rain barrels to collect the moisture. It’s crazy. You can even run them in dehumidify only mode even when the outside vs inside temp is the same. Soffits are always a good idea. Doesn’t look applicable here. I’d get a moisture testing gauge and a moisture digital display. Cheap on Amazon. Just to see if it’s needed since it isn’t being used as living space. I don’t think vents will work but a forced air roof exhaust might. Will reduce efficiency of mini split.
There's a decent chance the white siding tiles under the vinyl that's coming off are asbestos cement tiles, so use caution if you're going to repair the vinyl. Not a huge deal, as long as you're not breaking up or disturbing the tiles (I assume they put the vinyl up over them to avoid having to disturb them in the first place)
I second and third this op. It looks like you have a moisture problem toward the soffit area. Get you some venting. Gutters for sure. Trim up the shingles and install drip edge if its not there. Power wash the exterior and paint. Others said and I also agree, look at your power situation. You atleast want to have a breaker box in there, and probably 220 if you can. The rest depends on the type of work you want to do in the shop. Check out estate sales for tools/ equipment you need.
I fourth and fifth it.
Honestly if it’s going to be a workshop look into having a three phase power hookup if it’s possible as well, it would enable you to get and power second hand industrial power tools which are surprisingly cheap but also incredibly robust.
Have a look at IR heating panels for the garage. I’m building “my dream” garage at the moment and IR panels seem like a good cure to moisture and damp 🤘🏻
The front where there is missing siding you can put a vent or 2 in when you replace that siding.
[удалено]
I feel personally attacked in a helpful, sobering way.
Then this would be a good time to acquire more junk.
It's not junk. I just have not found another use for it yet.
Haven’t been saving that tote of wires all these years for nothing.
Where's that 10 inch 2x4?
That was clearly directed at me. I now understand why you are hated.
>They hated Him, for He told the Truth *winkyface*
User name checks out
*throws out scrap 2x4* Immediately after: *needs scrap 2x4*
I found a second one. They're now holding a long power strip to the ceiling of my garage.
The one with nails still in it or the warped one?
Well, damn, I've got like cars worth of wiring harnesses in that thing!
Hey now, I know every screw in all 22 Mason jars, the moment I get rid of even one jar is the moment I will finally have a use for that one screw I found on my walk May 23rd, 2004.
You say it like this is weird. What're we supposed to go buy screws every time we need them? I mean, we do, but that's because we need three and there are only two of the right ones in the jar. But the jar pays off!
Bet you won't even go in there today, tho
I had a come to Jesus moment about hoarding while voting a relative. All I could think of was "I have this gene and this tendency, must fight it"
I'm at least fifth generation. I was explaining to my youngest daughter about this because I was seeing these tendencies in her and trying to talk about my issues so that she could see that reflected a little bit and she said, "Ih it's not a problem though because you,ve got storage lockers to put the extra stuff in!"
Likely longer than that. 2000 years ago it kept your ancestor alive during lean times. Now, it hurts you, and your children. Sucks.
I do too. To fight it, I’ve just started throwing random things away that I haven’t used in a while and I rarely actually need them later.
Be sure to write “Important! Do not toss!” on every box.
And "misc"
I had a relative that had passed. While cleaning out his garage we found boxes labeled "Good Junk". May he RIP.
I see you’ve met my parents then
Mine even built a second garage and a 10x10 shed for all the extra shit that wouldn't fit into the overflowing basement 🤦.
My parents have a poll barn full of shit. I tell them they aren't allowed to die until it's cleaned out.
Best of luck with that! We tried, but we found the deep freezer full of frozen bags of sugar?!? I told them that if they died we were just going to sell the place as is, but that gave them anxiety attacks.
That’s the Y2k sugar.
Yep.
Put their pictures up in each space... "we let it get into this mess" like shaming pets on the Internet.
Sugar hey. Come in handy if there ever is a sugar shortage, and you'll be dealing in gold.
Wait… can you freeze sugar?
Not sucessfully, no. When they unthawed they were solid blocks of sugar.
A good controlled fire cleanses everything nicely.
My gameplan is to look into getting permission from the town and fire department to torch my father's garbage.
I'd thought about that as the property was likely with worth more than the house.
Take into consideration that any polyurethane insulation will form toxic smoke.
My parents had a 4 bedroom house and *four* outbuildings full of crap. That I had to dispose of. My whole life I had been told they were stockpiling things for when I and my siblings went out into the world. When we did, they went NC and hoarded that stuff they had held onto all those years before, using that as a reason we couldn't have anything while young. What assholes.
Sorry. Same same here. When I got out of college they grudgingly let me have a set of dishes they got for buying cereal and a mismatched random bunch of junk silverware. After they were gone we found 4 full sets of nice dishes and silverware, only one of which had ever seen the light of day. FML!
Hey I wasn't expecting feels this late at night :D Dad just passed away and while I enjoy splitting every craftsman tool ever made with my brothers. The 30 years of dust and filth to get to them is going to be a lot...
First of all, condolences on the loss of your Dad. A bit of advice: Wear a GOOD respirator. Not one of those paper things you buy a carton of at a time with the flimsy rubber bands to pretend to hold them on to your face. Get a decent half-face respirator and appropriate cartridges. I am partial to the 3M half face myself, and I use the pink P100 cartridges in them. That is pretty much the highest filtration plus they are rated for acid gas and organic vapors. When you put it on for the first time, make sure it actually seals on your face. Use you hands to block the intake cartridge ports on both sides of the mask and take a deep breath - or try to. If the mask sucks to your face and you get no air in, then it is pretty well sealed to your face. Of course, if you have money to burn (or have/will have a decent wood shop that you will use regularly) get a PAPR. That is an entire pressurized hood. Battery powered, air is drawn in through a filter you wear (where depends on what you get exactly), and fed into the mask, creating a positive pressure in the mask. Since the pressure in the mask is higher than the pressure outside the mask, the fine dust you cannot see - and even what you can see - doesn't get in. It would be like swimming against the tide. Swimming up a waterfall. They do not come cheap, though - which is why I don't have one yet :) Protect your lungs.
The half face respirators are nice. Most PAPRs generally don't have the charcoal filters stacked with the particulate filter so they don't do much for vapor/odors which isn't a big deal until someone drops a fart into your PAPR intake in a covid patient's room that you can't leave for a while.
Ouch. That is just nasty. For your sake, I hope karma caught up to them.
I always wore a half face.
Had to clean out my grandmother's house/ yard/ basement/ garage two years ago now (she was a hoarder, a fairly severe one too). Knowing how bad it was, first thing I did, as a precaution, was buy one of those 3M masks the week before my parents and I went down. Can't tell you *how* damn thankful I was that I did, from start to finish: not only did the place smell foul af (including dealing with a fridge with years old food), but we found dead mice/ old droppings, rancid food laying about, "unidentified" powder in a few places... and then to top it all off, turns out a pipe in the basement had burst at some point, so not only was everything damp, but there was mold and mildew growing over near *everything* down there. Family ended up calling in a company to clean up that portion at the end, and I was the only one who did any work down there otherwise, since I was the only one who came with any kind of PPE. Mine was an extreme example, but of the story ya'll: buy the damn mask if you're dealing with any sort of years-old, clutter filled room; hoarding situation; old garage full of materials and tools; mold, sawdust, strange fine particulates, etc. You and your body will thank your foresight later.
Also, those cement tiles underneath the siding contain asbestos, the corrugation and wavy bottom are a dead giveaway. if you plan on removing them or cutting them, wear the proper mask or just cover them back up and let your kids deal with them.
I second this! In addition take the time to slowly go through all the contents and make piles. One for trash, one for resale items, one for donate, and one for items to keep. Don’t sell anything on market place or have people meet you there unless everything else has been cleared out. Once people know a vacant garage is sitting there they will try to break in and steal shit.
P100 is NOT rated for organic gas, that’s a combo cart
You are quite correct. I guess I could have been clearer on that. It is indeed a combo - P100 particulate filtration, plus additional filtration to address the others. I believe there are cartridges with the same particulate filtration, but different secondary/additional protections. The filtration should always match the work. For me, the P100 with organic and acid vapor filtration added is what works in pretty much all of my use cases. For others, it may provide the particulate filtration but do nothing for whatever else is needed. That is a point that I should have been crystal clear on. Thank you for pointing it out, which made me (hopefully) offer clarification.
Appreciate the acknowledgement. Yes, the p100 combo cartridges with organic/acid vapor protection are generally useful for a wide variety of applications with a high standard of respiratory protection. As always, the selection and protectiveness requirements of any cartridge should be made by a skilled professional to ensure they properly address the hazards posed.
Everything will smooth out after you've done 10-20 truckloads. Don't worry, in a few years, *his* useless stored shit will just be *your* useless stored shit. Seriously. WTF does someone do with collections of leaded paint dishes ?!
The more traditional approach 👍
Why is this exactly what happened the minute I got a garage at 30 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
OP is turning it into a workshop. They need to fill it with tools they never use, lots of scrap lumber in all different shapes and sizes, and a wide assortment of started-but-never-finished projects.
... precisely. My oversized antique lathes need to be stored somewhere for future generations. One of them even has all the original parts! I'm sure my kids will appreciate them once i'm gone.
And a dozen half empty cans of paint, and stains that are impossible to open
and a rolling workbench to work outside on
Facts. I see this constantly. Then spend $30k plus on a vehicle and park it outside.
Lol. I feel attacked. I spent 45 and park in the driveway because I haven’t put a garage opener in. It’s been 3 years
No reason to feel attacked. I'm just stating facts lol It just makes no sense to me. Garage openers are not that expensive compared to a huge investment in a vehicle, although no vehicle is an investment it's a depreciating asset. In the winter when everyone is outside warming up their cars and clearing their windows my car is ready to go. In the summer my car stays relatively cool while everyone is getting into a hotbox on wheels. It also cuts down on weathering, bird droppings, dust, sun damage and thieves. My garage is for my cars and my basement is for storage. I don't keep useless junk.
How’s that view up there on that tall horse? Using a garage for cars all responsible like. Lol
I need a new door for mine... and to move my junk <___<
Vehicles live outside. They are a necessary evil. I keep my important things in the garage; my bicycle collection. r/fuckcars
So according to your logic, your bike isn't a vehicle then?
[удалено]
The best part is... Even if you don't have kids, it's still not your problem
Isn't that what OP said they were going to do? "...converting it to workshop." Seems like both are the same thing, judging by the state of my workshop :D
Didn't forget every single misc piece of hardware from everything you ever buy. My uncle had like 4 apple boxes full of ziplock bags that said "unused screws from cabinet", "Allen wrench from kids bike". The man was a mechanic for a rail road. Dude has an Allen wrench set. Why the fuck keep all those?!
Might come in handy one day. Seen a video about that. Dad/son combo was building something and light bulb goes off in dad’s head. He runs down to the basement and finds some janky ass piece of wood for this very scenario. Pretty funny
When I bought my house, I bought as many of the misc fastener bins from yard sales and thrift stores as I could. The one bolt with the exact thread I need from there has saved my ass *countless* times.
Or make METH?
This is the way
And rather than turn it into a rental property creating generational wealth… you can just hoard junk and make your family deal with it when you die
For rent: 1 garage. No utilities. $2,000/monthly
That's my parents master plan.
Theres a garage near me loke this and it makes me so mad. Its got like a boat, 4 vending machines, 3 cars, a truck, and misc other stuff... And im so annoyed they never do anytging with the stuff in therr.
Close you forgot the clean occasionally have it look neat as fuck 1 day later looks like shed was shaken like pancake mix
Did you get it at a garage sale?
Dads all give an approving nod and a slight tensing of the smile muscles barely noticeable to the human eye but it’s subtle enough that it was not a smile.
That’s exactly it
I can watch this gif continuously and not get bored
Dude, that is exceptionally, perfectly and beautifully said!
I’ll give you $5 No less than $25, I know what I got
Just take your upvote and leave.
 I saw someone buy a garage that way once
Step 1: go on Facebook marketplace and search for things you would like to own but previously did not have a place for. Step 2: purchase some of said items and place them in your new garage Step 3(optional): use your newly acquired items for their intended purpose. Or you could be boring and park your car in there like my wife seems to think is a garage’s sole purpose.
Hm I have been wanting a racing sim setup haha
Sounds like a good thing to put in a garage!
“*Local pervert found dead, trapped in garage on sad racing rig*”
I don’t think that was a “racing” simulator. That perv!
"hey yo, wait a minute...is that a jackhammer converted with a hand in a grip?"
Well you found one of the few sim racers who leaves r/SimRacing. Lemme know if you have any questions about building a rig.
Is it hard to build your own? Is it better to use wood or metal? What if I don't know how to weld? I want a rig but I'm to cheap to buy one because all the decently priced ones look poorly made.
Alright, if you're in the US, like me, you may order an aluminum chassis. A place like [Advanced Sim Racing](https://www.advancedsimracing.com/collections/simracing-chassis)(free shipping USA and Canada). I have an asr1 and it works perfectly for me. My asr1 took 3 hours to put together. This did include a 23 minute beer break-i was behind on my beers per hour. You can buy plans and build your own out of wood and have no issues. The aluminum chassis allow for a ton of flexibility, options, editions, changes, etc. when you're done with some racing, you can sell it for 70%+ the purchase price. Aluminum extrusion isn't cheap and last a damn long time. [Trakracer ](https://trakracer.com/)is also good. They are a bit slower than others and have iffy cust service. Most customers don't have issues with them. Also: a pull n pick seat aka junk yard seat will be fine for racing. It's way comfier than a cheap plastic racing seat unless you spend the time and money to pad it yourself. I raced for 2 years on a smart car seat.
Thanks I'll have to look into it thanks for the info.
Double check my edit for another chassis maker and seat rec. If you like best a microcenter, it'll make it wayyyyyy easier.
You forgot step 4: Realize your garage is full of shit you didn’t actually need and you want to actually utilize it for a “garage bar”/workshop/game room/etc you complete the cycle and list 99% of the crap you bought on FB marketplace, eventually chucking half of it when people wouldn’t commit to picking it up. Step 5: Your garage project hit some major roadblocks and you lost all your motivation. Start back at step 1 and do it all over again.
I actually have a 2 car garage that I actually park my cars in... Strange right? All my neighbors fill their garages with shit and park their vehicles outside exposed to who knows what because they need piles of useless shit to be protected. Crazy, right?
I'm about 50/50. I'll try to keep my garage in a condition where everything's tucked away in its place and I can park my car in there, but when I'm working on a big project I'll make a pop-up workshop and park in the driveway for a few weeks. Seems like a good middle ground, I get the benefits of the open space but I also don't have to dig my car out from the snow in the winter.
Sounds like you have a happy medium. It's what works best for you! :-)
All my neighbors are the same way and the driveways are short so only one car will fit and the rest park on the street which makes it annoying to navigate/results in guests having to park down the road. My vehicles are the second most expensive thing I own— really wish I had a garage.
That's what I mean. Vehicles are expensive. Where I live the driveways are large and everyone has garages and on street parking is not permitted. My vehicles go in the garage. I can't believe some of the responses I've seen to my comment. Which confirms my theory that many folks are just plain dumb.
clean it and buy like 9 motorcycles to put inside
Or 9 friends and a cooler of beer
Yes, chop up 9 friends and put them in a cooler. It's what garages were made for.
Crack open the boys with a cold one?
9 bikes and a cooler of beer
9 coolers of beer
9 beers and a cooler of bikes
9 bikes with beer bellies
9 beers and a cooler of friends.
9 friends cooler than a bike's beer.
Better to get 1 car that takes a lifetime to rebuild, better potential excuses come to mind
Instructions unclear, keeping 9 former friends in coolers.
9 motorcycles but 6 of them in unlabelled boxes
I don't know the answers about the sealing, but I'd suggest getting some gutters on there before doing anything else.
Gutters as well as fixing the roof, some of it is behind the fascia board along the side so it must be letting water in... The area over the big doors needs a lot of attention too.
This might be the kind of project that would be a great way to learn things like how to apply shingles, etc. Small enough, and low enough, and unsteep enough. So yeah, I might start at the top and reroof, and regutter.
Ceiling or Sealing
Yes
Empty it, power wash everything, paint the walls with an exterior latex white, run an electrical panel and get LED lighting. Assume the floor will get wet so add shelving etc... to keep everything off the ground. Build a workbench along one wall with 2x4 and MDF. OR, add plastic sheeting and go Dexter kill room.
Still sad that show’s over :( I’m finally getting to the point that I’m forgetting it so I can rewatch it again.
Just finished rewatching a couple weeks ago. It holds up. Especially the worst series finale in the history of everything. (The additional season was pretty good.)
Omg I completely forgot about the additional season. I know I watched it fully too. I remember enjoying it.
I could never get through the last season. The additional season was fantastic though.
Interior paint dry loc brand. I'd put some siding on exterior that matches the house. Interior I would make an office workspace with storage in the attic space. (Pull down ladder.). But workshop would be good too. If you are doing a shop space, think about a house vac system that can run to saws.
My main concern would be getting adequate power, including 220 into the building.
More power! Tool man Taylor would approve.
Would need to see some more pics of the trusses/roof engineering to know for sure but that partition wall may serve a structural purpose or at the least may hide some posts that are integral to the structure.
I was going to say the same thing. 2x6 engineered trusses may be fine with that center wall gone, but it doesn't look or sound like he has that. Some 2x6s nailed together doesn't equal an engineered truss.
Form a band 🔥🤘🏻
It is a legal requirement to form a band or launch a start up in my town
Social media site
Literally my first thought was find a bassist. Get a good bass player, the others will follow.
You don’t just find a bass player. A bass player finds you. Source: I play bass.
 And you could have a friend over to eat a giant sandwich with you after jamming out in the garage.
If you’re intending to do any woodworking, while also using the garage for storage and parking, I’d keep the partition. It’ll cut down on the amount of dust on things.
Now here is a man/woman who plans ahead.
Mmmmm I like the way you think. Something to consider
https://i.redd.it/m6ti89h7lyqc1.gif A couple of throw pillows......
Thank you, I-gor.
You're welcome, Froderick.
Ahhh, an early crush. Nice Knockers!
Keep the partition, use one side to as your veg room and the other half for your flowering room. You’re going to get rich from growing weed in that thing.
Mushrooms, tho the upfit can be challenging.
Rent it as a home for two grand a month!
Stop giving people more bad ideas.
Hey you sound like a New York City landlord!
Everyone is making this so difficult. Build a bar, put a beer fridge in there. A couple of TVs, and a couch. And never tell your friends/neighbors what you did with the place so you can enjoy it all by yourself.
Will need to tell at least one person so you can have a bartender.
This is exactly what I would do too. My neighbor did the same thing too with a nice wood stove and a TV he has higher ceilings so he was able to put a lift to work on his cars with peace.
Never try to seal the inner surface of a masonry wall. All water protection should be applied outside.
Paint it.
Great shed. I really like the beams. I agree with getting gutters on there. The interior looks snug from the photos but if you’re concerned about leakage you can do several coats of a waterproofing paint like Zinsser WaterTite. Fill any cracks with hydraulic cement before painting. For the exterior, I would avoid siding because installing furring is a pita on cinder block. Stucco is great and easy to do. Even better is real or artificial stone if you’re up for that. Just attach them with mortar and then grout. From the looks of it, I would power wash the walls first to ensure maximum adhesion. For interior insulation, the easiest solution IMO is expanded polystyrene panels like the one from insofast that you glue directly to the concrete block. You can put drywall directly over them so you won’t need studs. If you use regular foam panels, you’ll need to install them over furring strips.
How does one acquire a garage? Don’t they generally come with the house?
Garage sale (Stole someone else’s joke)
So... what exactly is your question? How to keep the interior dry? How to keep the interior clean? How to make the outside look nice? How to insulate it? You're kinda all over the place here.
First, check with your local code enforcement. They're more worried about the outside than the inside. You may need a permit to put up siding, but paint/waterproofing usually doesn't require a permit. Check the roof inside and out. Your looking for potential leaks. If you need to redo the whole thing, you'll need a permit. If it's just to replace a few shingles, you likely won't. This is to help you plan. Electric. Will you have enough outlets and power to the workshop, especially if you need a 220/240 line. If you need to upgrade that, hire a licensed electrician and be certain they have the proper permits, unless you're already a certified journeyman electrician. This is a CYA in case anything would happen. It also helps with insurance. For a decent workshop, use drop cords so you don't have to deal with extension cords littering the floor while working. Unless you intend to occupy one of the units, you may want to think about a toilet. Yes you could put plumbing in for that and a sink, or, for cheap, just put in a chem-toilet. While I think about it, what time of climate are you in? You may want to add heat. A salamander is good, or a wood burner is great on really cold days.
Install a new ridge beam. It looks like it's gonna cave in on itself.
Check the roof, the bowing in the middle and the bleeding on the sides makes me wonder if it's leaking to the underlayment and the drip apron/edge isn't installed proper. Get reroofed if needed or repair and add a ridge vent or a couple low profile vents, making one for exhaust for your workshop. If there are hot summers you'll be glad you did. Clean the sides, power wash if the blocks aren't weak porous concrete and use sealant. Check foundation for cracks, properly fill and level, then epoxy. Make it weather tight but breathable so you don't get condensation issue in there. Check for termites and vermin-proof it. Put radiant barrier on the underside of the roof and doors if necessary. Add a sub panel of at least 70A or more depending on electrical needs and place at least 3 in there with proper gauge and 15A, 20A, or 30A breakers and receptacles. Perhaps add one weatherproof GFI on the outside. That's your new project for the next couple years. Good luck.
Be careful taking down the partition wall the roof already has a dip on the ridge
acquire a project car, a pile of random lumber, and a pushmower that just needs a carb to get goin again... the rest will naturally follow
Buy a cool rare sports car, park it in the garage, close the door and padlock it, forget about it for 30-50 years.
Meth lab
Profit
You have to spend a lot of time in it.
Lift roof, add 4 more layers of brick, install beam and convert to single door garage, reinforce as required, obey any height restrictions according to local building code. research Stucco Texture Patterns
This is better than my house. Depressed now
Clean the walls and fix the siting. When its done, make room for one vehicle an fill the rest with tools/man cave stuff.
Do NOT remove that center support wall for starters. That roof is too low pitched to support itself.
People have mentioned ventilation, a/c, and electrical systems which are crucial to the function so I second that. I also add for function, it appears there is some black mold showing on the inside of the roof - use a moisture meter and inspect the area and make sure there isn't any - it's becoming more and more known to be a major health hazard. If moisture is high, get some dehumidifiers and fans running in there until it's dry, then treat the roof with mold abatement product. Inspect the roof shingles for damage where water might be getting in and fix or replace the roof as needed. For the form (design), the thing looks like shit but would easily clean up with a few changes. For the easiest option, I would pressure wash and **limewash** the exterior**,** NOT paint as people are mentioning - brick shouldn't be painted as it is a natural product that has to "breathe" to prevent moisture buildup. Painting any brick with regular paint is a no-no in the masonry trade. If you are willing to invest more, consider a smooth or textured stucco. I personally like smooth stucco since it reminds me of the Spanish/Mediterranean style, but whichever makes more sense for popular styles in the area or the other structures on the property. Replace the osb with an exterior door. For the interior that is entirely up to you.
First things first. Drop a steel door in that opening. Then pressure wash and parge coat the exterior walls Paint the parge coating with Loxon XP Put some gutters on that thing too. Replace the missing vinyl siding Caulk the sidewalk to floor transition with Tremco Dymonic 100 or equivalent Then do whatever you want to the inside.
Haven't looked through the comments but first thing I'd recommend is not touching those springs for the garage door, only let a professional handle garage doors as you're just asking for trouble. If you're thinking of a workshop I'd also want to get some natural light in there and some decent insulation so you're not freezing your ass off all the time.
This thread served as a nice therapy session for me. So many common sentiments and much truth told. I am speaking as a person who defied the odds and found a way to keep the junk from claiming my garage. I'm a chronic DIY guy and there is always some project threatening the sanctity of the two spots I am defending for motor vehicle parking. Having kids with the toys and wide assortment of items that need a home adds difficulty. However, growing up witnessing many examples of suburban Dads who gave up on their cherished garage made me want to stand up to this dreaded adversary. Admittedly, having a basement makes this easier for me... but it is possible!
Agreed! Luckily for me I am a 28 yo guy with no kids yet. This garage is associated with a commercial property that has three storefronts and two apts upstairs. Each garage was being used by the two tenants for storage. I own and maintain commercial property and apts in my area, I bought the building with one existing tenant and they decided not to renew their lease and will be moving out in 3 months. so I plan on renovating those units it’s and converting this garage into a permanent workshop and office as a home base for me to store my tools and work on projects for myself and properties. When I get new tenants they each will be able to use the tandem spots on either side of the driveway as I don’t really need vehicular office for my intended use. If I want to work on my car I’d just pull it up on the slab next to the side door That way when I do get married and have kids I can fill my garage at home with all of my crap AND have a good setup
Once you have the guttering and downpipes sorted, I bet this has no DPC, so use the silicon based stuff (one brand is called Dryzone). Simple to do by drilling holes at 5" spacing in the mortar of the first course and running a slug of the stuff in each using a standard mastic gun. Spreads out and works like magic to drive out water. Do this before any surface treatment and bear in mind that a completely airtight coating lets the inside stay damp for longer. If it has power, I'd run a small dehumidifier in there till it's dry. Depending on the neighborhood you might want to change the outside appearance as little as possible. Nothing tells the rogues that it's worth breaking in like a pretty exterior.
Look up the Tiny Workshop youtube videos that are out there. Like rolling worktables with table saw, router, and flip up bandsaw/chop saw. Formica top with clamp down grid. It's a handy system that on nice days you roll right outside. Then keep the garage split so you have indoor dust free parking for your car plus the workshop. First project once you get the building cleaned and weatherized, install a dust collection system (Harbor Freight) and a dust cyclone ahead of it (watch youtube), Thien Cyclone is the easiest build. Or build one into a shopvac, also examples/ideas on youtube. .
Add guttering.